The Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness (BAEH) has called on authorities to shift focus from awareness campaigns to implementing early, community-based mental health interventions, citing untreated mental health conditions as a key driver of the island’s homelessness crisis. Speaking on World Mental Health Day, BAEH President Kemar Saffrey emphasized the need for early identification and support for mental health challenges in schools, workplaces, and families to address the intertwined issues of homelessness and mental illness. He stressed that education and awareness are crucial to reducing stigma and fostering societal understanding. Since its establishment in 2009, the BAEH has worked with hundreds of homeless individuals, revealing that approximately 80% of its clients, both male and female, have faced mental health issues. Saffrey highlighted the necessity of a holistic national approach, combining clinical care with community outreach and robust policy support. He also advocated for policy changes to empower frontline organizations, such as community groups and shelters, to assess, document, and refer individuals in crisis to mental health services. This, he argued, would bridge the gap between community and clinical care, ensuring dignified and timely intervention. Recent data from Barbados’ 24-hour mental health hotline, which has received over 6,500 calls since its launch, underscores the urgency of the issue, with 40% of calls coming from children and teens. Saffrey urged Barbados to move beyond awareness and take meaningful action, emphasizing compassion and coordinated reform as essential for lasting progress. On World Mental Health Day, the BAEH called for a national recommitment to mental wellness, ensuring access to support for all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.